Closure of I-90-go through Hyak?

[Jens]

If my memory serves me right isn't there a fairly good forest service road that goes by Hyak past the septic treatment plant and eventually spits you back to I-90 at exit 62? I'm 90% sure I've driven it before ( along time ago)

They could plow it in a few hours?

[catbirdseat]

Jens, that would make way too much sense, wouldn't it? We are talking about the State of Washington here.

[jon]

They had some guy on the news who tried that and ended up having to push his truck out of the snow.

[L0ngpause]

Jens-

Of my limited knowledge there seem to be three possible variations of travel to get past where the slide hit:

1)The one which I think you may be speaking of is a little road paralleling I-90, it is on the n. side of 90 though, I believe the treatment plant is on the opposite side.I think you could get off on Crystal Crk & make it to Hyak. The problem with this route is obviously the road; it is one lane broken up asphalt, migt as well travel one lane on 90.

2)Another option you may have been talking about was Stampede pass. For that route you could also use Crystal Crk exit 62. It is a gravel FS road, steep but scenic. It’s even possible to circumnavigate over the 1-mile tunnel. It runs through the Grn River water shed and it takes you West and you will come out somewhere b/w Enumclaw & Mt. Rainier. There are two problems with this option: 1) After you go over Stampede Pass you get on S.R. 410, which essentially runs b/w highway 12 and 90, Unfortunately, sr. 410 was just closed down due to snow. 2) If that could be cleared up, there is also a bridge out on Lester, floods I think.

3)At ext 62 you could also get on the John Wayne trail runs N-S along the side of Lake Keechelus opposite I-90, it would be a great way to go but it is historic land.

I think we will be traveling one lane for awhile. I actually saw a talk a couple years ago where improvements were trying to be made on that section of I-90 corridor. First, they tried to build a road where J.W. trail is and the idiots finally gave up. The two major plans after that was to blast a giant tunnel through the rock at ‘dead man’s curve’ where the MPH sign drops to about 40-45 or something ridiculous and making a straighter road or tunnel. The plan concerning the snowshed was to extend the highway out over Lake Keechelus, not crossing, but having the highway on pilings above the lake. The rockfall hit b/w dead mans curve and the Snowshed, also where avalanches typically occur.

-Kat

[spicoli11]

I belive they opened up one lane in each direction today.....but most people probably know this because of all the coverage its getting.

[knelson]

...2)Another option you may have been talking about was Stampede pass. For that route you could also use Crystal Crk exit 62. It is a gravel FS road, steep but scenic. It’s even possible to circumnavigate over the 1-mile tunnel. It runs through the Grn River water shed and it takes you West and you will come out somewhere b/w Enumclaw & Mt. Rainier. ...

 

I wouldn't try that one folks. Last I checked, you can make it to Stampede Pass and listen to the power lines crackle, but you can't go any further west. Roads are closed through the watershed. Looks great on a map, but they don't show the gates.

 

-kurt

[mattp]

Doesn't the Stampede Pass road take you to Lester, where the road is gaited and you are not allowed to enter the watershed? It might provide an alternate pass for someone with some special clearance, but I don't think regular citizens are allowed to pass.

[knelson]

Wow. Good point.